Christians and ethnic minorities are living a “nightmare” in China under President Xi Jinping, a congressional commission report released Oct. 10 documents. Jinping’s unmerciful program to “Sinicize” religion into a government-controlled framework, marginalize ethnic minorities including Uyghur Muslims, and redefine human rights intensified in 2018, making life a nightmare for civilians …

A. Rudolph (Rudy) Fagan, who led the former Stewardship Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention for 20 years, died Wednesday (Oct. 3) in Murfreesboro, Tenn. He was 88. Fagan served as president of the Stewardship Commission from 1974 until his retirement in 1994.

An international Hindu confab in the U.S. that organizers describe as a unity initiative will include radical and violent Hindu nationalists, International Christian Concern (ICC) charged Sept. 5. The second World Hindu Congress convening Sept. 7-9 in Chicago will encourage the use of Hindu philosophy, according to event organizers, to address issues of politics, education and commerce …

Two North Carolina Baptist women have established relationships with Yemeni families in the state – the first known instance of N.C. Baptists engaging this unreached people group after four years of prayer, Zac Lyons told the Biblical Recorder July 5. Lyons said there are only 35 known believers in northern Yemen.

The Baptist State Convention of North Carolina initiated a strategy last year to help churches engage a mission field that is estimated to be 95 percent unchurched. The targeted group, said to number in the millions, includes people from all over the world who span the economic spectrum.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling in a religious freedom case is not about government funding of the church’s mission, but it will have far-reaching results, a Capitol Hill audience was told. Panelists explained the impact of an opinion by the high court and how Christians should respond to the debate over church-state relations.

The Southern Baptist Convention’s ethics entity has joined with Prison Fellowship and other organizations in an appeal to Christians to work for a “fair and redemptive” justice system in the world’s leading incarcerating country. The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission partnered with the country’s largest outreach to prisoners …

Mark Dever warned pastors that Satan “is going to continue to put increasing pressure on our churches to fall out with each other over different answers to debatable questions.” Dever distinguished such essentials as the deity of Christ and the inerrancy of Scripture from “debatable” issues.

The alt-right social and political movement is in the spotlight after the Southern Baptist Convention condemned alternative-right white supremacy at its 2017 annual meeting in Phoenix. What is the alt-right movement? Many Southern Baptists aren’t familiar with the term, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission President Russell Moore said June 14.

Protection of human life and preparation of parents have been among the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission’s (ERLC) priorities during the last year, Russell Moore told messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention. The ERLC is devoted to speaking to Southern Baptists, while also declaring a message to the world, Moore told messengers.

Christians should turn to diverse sources, practice patience and humility, and extend grace in a culture plagued by fake news and mistrust of the media, Southern Baptist ethicist Russell Moore and a panel of journalists said May 2 on Capitol Hill. The event, titled “Living in a Post-truth World,” was the latest in the series known as Capitol Conversations, a periodic panel discussion.

Prestonwood Baptist Church has announced it will resume giving through the Cooperative Program after two months of evaluating its support. “After a time of prayerful evaluation, Prestonwood is renewing our commitment to Southern Baptist missions by giving to the Cooperative Program without designation,” said Prestonwood executive pastor Mike Buster.

The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission will feature the final three volumes in its “Gospel for Life” book series and partner again in a conversation on church and culture during the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention June 13-14 in Phoenix.

ERLC President Russell Moore released a joint statement March 20 with the organization’s executive committee in an effort to mend wounds inflicted during the recent U.S. presidential campaign. In his public apology, Moore reaffirmed the central convictions of his ministry but offered an olive branch to those he offended.

ABOUT THE BIBLICAL RECORDER
Since 1833 the Biblical Recorder has served North Carolina Baptists as the Baptist State Convention's official news journal - with the emphasis on news. The paper was founded by Thomas Meredith, an early pastor, writer and denominational statesman in North Carolina.